Caitlin Foord brace helps Arsenal warm up for Lyon clash by thrashing Leicester

Arsenal sent a warning to Lyon ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash on Saturday with a dominant 5-1 Women’s Super League win over Leicester.

Caitlin Foord was at the double at the Emirates with Stina Blackstenius, Beth Mead and Victoria Pelova also on target as Renee Slegers’ side won without injured starters Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly.

Despite Yuka Momiki’s consolation goal, the Gunners moved to within three points of league leaders and fellow Champions League semi-finalists Chelsea, who face Barcelona on Sunday.

Arsenal started on the front foot and, typical of their now seven league match winning run, their quality shone through in the ninth minute.

Kelly’s injury put further emphasis on Frida Maanum’s role as chance creator and the Norway international did not disappoint with a wonderful inswinging ball from the right which fell into the path of Foord to tap home from six yards out for her 50th Gunners goal.

The early goal disrupted Leicester’s game plan to sit deep as they were drawn out of their positions in an attempt to press higher before Arsenal exploited the space behind the back four for a second after 16 minutes.

The physically inferior Foxes struggled to win their duels and, after Foord turned with ease to beat the pressure in midfield, a simple ball to Mead down the right gave the Lionesses forward all the time in the world to play the ball across to Blackstenius for a first-time finish from close range.

Arsenal claimed a third in the 31st minute as Mariona Caldentey picked the ball up and bypassed her markers with a drive inside, before laying the ball off to Foord.

The unmarked Matildas winger then played a one-two with Blackstenius before she let fly from just inside the box with a deflected effort which wrong-footed Manuela Zinsberger.

After the break, Mead turned scorer when she connected with Kim Little’s cross to head in the fourth before Leicester got a consolation through Momiki.

Arsenal had the final say when a half-volley by substitute Pelova nestled in the side-netting to round off a dominant five-goal showing.